Friday, June 12

Postcard Friendship Friday: Owen and Howard

This studio postcard was taken in the last week of June 1913, or early July, probably in Lemoore, Calif. Howard, on the right, is wearing a tie that looks to be stars and stripes, no doubt in commemoration of the 4th of July.

On the back of the card, their mother Josie (Cupp) Morris tells her sister in Kansas (my grandmother) that husband Sam's nephew Robert Earl Morris had welcomed an 8-lb son named Rex (Rex Allen Morris, born in May 1913).

Josie also relays that John KERBY (a cousin on the Cupp side) "is married now", a wedding that occurred on June 23rd.

Owen and Howard, a year or two earlier

On the back of this one, Josie tells my grandmother that "this is the house we lived in last winter", indicating the photo was taken several months before it was sent. The bicycles may've been gifts from Santa that year.

I can't help but chuckle at Owen's indifferent pose in both photos. Owen (b. 27 May 1901) was three years younger than Howard (b. 18 January 1898), so perhaps the indifference was his way of seeming "older".

Howard married Miss Mary Mae Maschmeyer in December 1918. They were married for 44 years and had two children, Bernice and Roland. Owen also married a Mary, a widow with five children, but they had no children together.

At some point both couples moved to nearby Hanford, Calif, where Owen was employed at Hanford Moving and Storage for over 25 years. All are buried at Hanford Cemetery.

19 comments:

Each friday I feel more attached to your family history. I didn't think the boys were handsome, but the idea that both brothers would marry a Mary and they would always would stay near to each other made it a touching post. Another one. Thanks again for sharing.

Sheila, I kinda think that too. You can't see it here, but in an enlargement, it looks like Owen had a lazy left eye. So maybe he hated to have his picture taken for that reason.

Bob, isn't wild that brothers would marry Marys? (Say *that* 10 times!) It was quite confusing not only to the family back in KS. but going through letters from both Marys after my mother died, it was hard to keep straight who wrote them. Both had Hanford addresses of course, and they didn't always put a last name on the return address (if the envelope was with the letter). At least Josie would refer to them as "Howard's Mary" and "Owen's Mary" in her letters!

Wonderful post! What great family treasures. Two of my dad's brothers married Margarets. They already had a sister named Margaret. The three Aunts of mine were called Marge, Marc and Peggy so I was never confused about who married which Margaret.

I feel the same way! I feel more and more attached to your family through each post... It's exciting to have your family history unfolding in front of my eyes! It's a joy to read:) I think that Howard looks gentle and sweet.. Owen is really saying 'get me outta here' in each shot:) You're right! *grin* And of course who couldn't swoon over those pants!

Hi Happy PFF .Hey can I be adopted by your ancestor's :)I really do love each new post .I find it so hard to believe but each one seems better than the last one.I love the fact that you are sharing these wonderful cards and so much amazing information.It is a joy each Friday to swing by and read the latest.Blessings of joy to you and yours.Thank you .

Hello there!I also take part in Postcard Fridays but I actually just found you through this week's featured blogs over at Geneabloggers. I am Evelyn over at A Canadian Family(home of A Festival of Postcards) and I'd like welcome you to the Geneabloggers fold!Evelyn in Montreal

To all of you who enjoy meeting my family, you're welcome! But most of the people in the photos were strangers to me until a few years ago. Never talked about at gatherings at my grandmother's, her motto being "They're dead - why would anybody want to know about dead people?". So no one else talked about them either. Very weird.

Evelyn, I've been to your "A Canadian Family", but hate to say not recently. I'll be sure to correct that! It's a *wonderful* site!

pinky, what an absolute thrill to "meet" you! I have several letters from Mary to my mother. The "California branch" was quite good about keeping the "Kansas branch" up to date. Which brother was your grandfather, George or Joseph?

Mary and Howard's children, Bernice and Roland (or "R.H."), have always been something of a mystery. Do you know anything about them? Perhaps we could continue this by email? I'm jamagenie (at) gmail (dot) com.